Rose House, Bristol

An impressive fully-glazed wall featuring bespoke VELFAC sliding patio doors is the centrepiece of a new-build eco-house in Bristol, designed by house owner and architect Tom Russell of Emmett Russell Architects.

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Built in a walled garden, the site of a demolished Victorian cottage, the brief for Rose House was to build a modern house which remained sympathetic to its setting, but which also minimised energy and waste consumption both during construction and in use. As a result, all building products used – including the VELFAC windows and doors – make a significant contribution towards the energy efficiency of the house, without compromising the clean contemporary design.

Combination of windows stylesThe home is built around a highly insulated timber frame, and uses bricks and tiles recycled from the demolished cottage. A combination of VELFAC fixed, opening and sliding window units sits on a full-length deck built from locally sourced western red cedar, which is also used in the brise soleil. The slim VELFAC composite frame was finished in dark grey on the external aluminium sash, blending seamlessly with the exterior cladding, while the internal pine frame was enhanced with a clear lacquer adding warmth to the interior.

Impressive insulationThe installation of such expansive glazing demonstrates the impressive insulation delivered by the VELFAC system, which also maintains the clean, minimalist architectural style use throughout the build. In addition, the slim VELFAC frame maximises natural light, reducing artificial lighting and exploiting solar gain.

VELFAC produces a range of casement and balcony doors, including sliding and bi-parting units, which are ideal for smaller properties such as Rose House, where space is relatively tight. The VELFAC sliding casement door range requires minimal space when open while the system’s excellent insulation minimises cold spots and allows maximum use of floor space, right up to the glass.